ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has decided to hold local government elections in Punjab and cantonment areas, directing the relevant wings to take immediate steps to issue the election schedules.
Rejecting the Punjab government’s proposal to hold local government elections in April 2027 as unsatisfactory, the commission ordered that a draft election programme for the province be submitted for approval.
A meeting of the ECP was held under the chairmanship of Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja. Commission members Nisar Durrani, Babar Hassan Bharwana and Justice (retd) Ikramullah Khan attended the meeting, along with the ECP secretary and other senior officials.
According to an ECP statement, the Punjab government submitted its response to a commission letter on October 14. The provincial government proposed conducting local government elections in three phases, citing fog and cold weather in December and the holy month of Ramadan in February.
The government suggested holding the elections in April 2027, but the ECP declared its response unsatisfactory.
The statement said consultations between the ECP and the Punjab government under Section 219 of the Elections Act had concluded on August 20.
During those consultations, the Punjab government had agreed to hold local government elections between December 15, 2026, and January 15, 2027. However, the provincial government is now seeking to change the previously proposed dates.
Taking its constitutional responsibilities into account, the ECP decided to proceed with local government elections in Punjab. It directed the relevant wing to submit the draft election programme for immediate approval so that the process of issuing the election schedule could move forward.
The commission also expressed disappointment over the Punjab government’s failure to provide lists of election officials. According to the ECP, the provincial government had been asked to submit lists of district returning officers, returning officers and assistant returning officers.
However, the required lists were not provided. The commission has directed the Punjab government to submit them within one week.
Meanwhile, the ECP has also decided to hold local government elections in cantonment areas.
Regarding cantonment elections, consultations were held with the additional secretary of defence and the director general of Military Lands on April 15.
During the meeting, the secretary of defence was asked to submit the matter to the federal government in the form of a summary.
According to the ECP, the federal government had also been asked to submit an application under Section 19-D of the Cantonments Act, 1924.
The Ministry of Defence was sent several reminder letters, while the chief election commissioner also wrote to the prime minister. However, no satisfactory response was received from either side.
In view of the situation, the ECP decided to proceed with local government elections in cantonment areas as well. The relevant wing has been directed to take the necessary steps to issue the election schedule without delay.